My UPS driver hates me. At a minimum, he hates delivering packages to my house. I don't blame him. Over the past month I have had 600 lbs in gear delivered. Throw that on top of the 40 lb. bags of dog food I always have delivered and you a have recipe for an unhappy delivery man.

When I started Outdoor Fitness Project I decided not to use any equipment for the first month. After that, I looked for gaps in my training that could be filled with the use of simple gear. Every few months, I try new pieces of gear and note if it improves my training enough to warrant a recommendation. Basically, would I purchase the gear again?

You do not need any equipment to get or stay in shape. There are natural and man made features everywhere you look. Plenty of parks with pull up bars, benches to use as push-up platforms, railings for rows, and tree branches to do a number of exercises with.

Gear makes training in a confined location, such as a yard, easier. It also gives you more options for exercise and the ability to add external resistance.

The list below contains all of the gear I have used throughout the year. The gear I have chosen fits well with training outside. Each piece is simple, can be kept in a car, and can get dirty without compromising its integrity.

Suspension trainers. Suspension trainers are a gateway product for training outdoors. If I were to choose only one piece of equipment to use, it would be a suspension trainer. It has allowed me to turn a forest into a training facility and my daughter’s swing set into a calisthenics platform. I use JungleGym XT tactical trainers. A pair of rings from Rogue or home made suspension trainers will work just as well. http://www.lifelinefitness.com/store//products/ProductDetail.php?ProductID=683
Weight vest. Weight vests make adding resistance easy. I primarily use one for push-ups, dips, pull-ups, inverted rows and squat jumps. I have also used a vest for hill sprints…those are tough. I have a 45 lb. vest, but a 20 -25 lb. vest is perfect for the majority of exercises. https://home.livefit.com/home/index.php/accessories/sports-performance-training/xtreme-monkey-45lbs-adjustable-weight-vest/
Dip belt. My dip belt is at least 15 years old. It works great for training outdoors. When I want to go heavier than my 45 lb. weight vest I use my dip belt, putting the chain through a kettlebell. http://www.amazon.com/Barbell-Unisex-adult-Workouts-Leather-Belt/dp/B000S0KZF2
Kettlebells. Kettlebells are the perfect weight for training outside. They are compact, durable, and easy to take with you in the car. I use mine for swings, curls, goblet squats, lunges, as a weight for the dip belt, one arm presses, and several other exercises. I find 35, 53, and 80 lb. bells the most useful. Rogue makes great kettlebells with decent pricing. http://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-kettlebells
Parallettes. I have gotten a lot more use out of my parallettes than I thought I would. They are perfect for doing various push-ups and static holds such as the L-sit. They do make parrallettes that are tall enough to use for rows, however they a little big to leave in the car. I settled on a pair that is 12” off the ground and have no regrets. http://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-parallettes
Plyo box. Plyo boxes are versatile platforms for more than just jumps. I use mine for incline push-ups, step-ups, kettlebell rows, and as a bench to sit on when I am gasping for air. Unfortunately it is too big to travel with, so it’s relegated to backyard workouts. Plyo boxes are easy to make, or you can purchase one at most local fitness stores. http://www.roguefitness.com/conditioning/plyo-boxes
Traveling farmers walk handles. I just got a pair as an early Christmas present. It’s a strap you slip through weight plates, providing a solid handle for farmers walks. If you want to get strong, you have to carry heavy stuff. http://www.roguefitness.com/spud-inc-traveling-farmer-walk-handles
Pull sled. I went with a pull sled over a larger prowler style push sled, since it folds up and is easy to travel with. It is one of the best pieces of conditioning equipment that I have ever used and I highly recommend it. http://www.roguefitness.com/s-35e-rogue-e-sled
Slam ball. Slam balls are fun. It’s second only to a heavy bag in terms of a productive way to take out aggression. My goal is to break mine, though I don’t think it is going to happen anytime soon. I use a 30 lb. ball. It is a good general weight for most drills. https://home.livefit.com/index.php?cID=789
Sandbag. I always wanted to use a sandbag for training so I bought a big 160 lb. bag. It is too big. This thing is hard to move. An 80 lb. version would have suited my needs better. Overall, sandbags are nice to have but unnecessary. http://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-sandbags
Jump rope. Cheap, effective, and easy to travel with. Everyone should jump rope. http://www.roguefitness.com/spealler-speed-ropes
Resistance bands. Bands are relatively inexpensive, travel well, and can be used for adding resistance to pushing exercises or to lighten your weight, making pulling exercises easier. I also use mine for warming up and high rep pump work. http://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-monster-bands

That is all the gear I use on a regular basis. To avoid making permanent enemies with my neighborhood delivery men, I am going to take a break from ordering any more weights.

Let me know if there is any gear that you find helpful in training outdoors.

Take action, gear up, and get outside!